PRIME Minister Tony Blair last night sent a clear message to Britain's protesting truckers and farmers: There will be no surrender.

In a show of defiance, reminiscent of Margaret Thatcher, the Premier pledged to get fuel tankers moving again within 24 hours.

But, as the first signs of an easing in the crisis appeared in the South of England, picket line protestors in the North-East vowed to maintain their vigil until the Government climbed down.

Doctors, teachers and other service providers, however, warned that many systems were close to collapse.

As blockades at fuel refineries and depots continued to strangle supply routes last night, health chiefs warned that the shortages put patients' lives at risk.

Panic buying spread from fuel to food as consumers fearing the worst stocked up on essentials and the Royal Mail warned it only had supplies for one more day of deliveries in some areas.

Teachers around the country were also warning that unless the crisis could be resolved "very quickly" staff and pupils would not be able to get into school.

But Mr Blair insisted he could not "possibly, responsibly" introduce an emergency budget to alter taxes on fuel.

"Legitimate protest is one thing, but trying to bring the country to a standstill is another. There is absolutely no justification for it," he said.

Instead, he spent the day in negotiations with the oil companies, telling the firms it was up to them to ensure supplies reached the public.

"The oil companies are agreed that they must move supplies," he told reporters at a Downing Street press conference.

The police had agreed to do "all that is necessary" to protect drivers, and the main union concerned had issued a "strong statement" urging members to work normally, Mr Blair said.

"Everything is now in place to get the tankers moving," he added.

The Prime Minister's tough stand put him on a collision course with angry hauliers and farmers, who were still blockading most of the country's oil refineries last night.

Some demonstrators were claiming victory last night after they brought fuel trucks to a standstill at a North-East refinery.

Fuel movement ground to a halt after discussions between protestors and managers at the Phillips-Imperial Petroleum site near Middlesbrough.

That came on top of blockades at Sunderland's two refineries.

The campaigners on Teesside were last night keeping a vigil at the plant to ensure container wagons did not go in or out.

Farmer Andrew Spence, 33, of Leadgate, Consett, County Durham, said: "We came here to make a point and we have done that.

"We entered into dialogue with police and then management from Phillips and they agreed to bring the tankers to a stop, so no vehicles were moving in or out.

"The gates are now locked and we hope they stay that way.

"We have put up with sky-high petrol prices in this country for too long and it's crippling farmers, hauliers and motorists in general. It is time this Government sat up and listened."

l Manchester United face the prospect of empty seats at Old Trafford for the first time in almost two years because of the crisis.

The Premiership leaders, famed for drawing support from all quarters of the country, meet Anderlecht in their first Champions League match of the season tomorrow night.

And United admit "the Theatre of Dreams" is, unusually, unlikely to be full to its new 67,400 capacity as supporters look to preserve their precious last few drops of petrol and watch the match live on ITV.

The Football League said it had no plans to postpone any of tomorrow's Division One fixtures because of the fuel shortages brought about by protests against petrol prices.

Officials at Ayr racecourse warned that the crisis could ruin the course's prestige three-day Western Meeting, which begins tomorrow.

And Pontefract's meeting on the same day is under threat because the ambulance service has informed the course it is unable to provide cover.

Yarmouth is still seeking an assurance from its ambulance provider to allow tomorrow's meeting to take place.

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